Fresh off his two-season run on the comedy series “United States of Al,” actor Parker Young has been cast as a lead opposite Michaela McManus (“SEAL Team,” “You”) in ABC’s new drama pilot, “Criminal Nature,” from 20th Television and A+E Studios. The potential series is described as a soapy procedural set in America’s great outdoors and revolves around the tangled, messy lives of ISB agents — an elite law enforcement unit responsible for solving all serious crimes that occur in our country’s 81,000 square miles of protected land.
According to Deadline, Parker will play Clay, the ex-boyfriend of McManus’ character, Audrey. “As much of a cowboy as he is a cop, Clay knows more about the Wild Flower Killer than anyone else alive, and he’s been temporarily reassigned to Audrey’s team for the duration of their current investigation,” reads a character description. “Clay has always regretted letting Audrey, the love of his life, go — and he now intends to put up a fight for her — even though she’s engaged to Keldon, another Park Service agent.”
Previously, “Criminal Nature” had been in development under the working title “Untitled National Parks Project” and is being written by producer Rashad Raisani. The project is being filmed off-cycle and is a new take on the same concept ABC ordered to pilot last season from a different creative team that included Kevin Costner (“Yellowstone”), Deadline notes.
In addition to his work on the CBS comedy “United States of Al,” Young previously starred in such shows as “Suburgatory,” “Enlisted” and “Imposters.” He made his television debut in 2008 in an episode of “Days of our Lives” and has gone on to appear in episodes of “Big Time Rush,” “CSI: NY,” “Arrow,” “Future Man” and “Fresh Off the Boat,” among others. In 2020, he had a multi-episode arc on the drama “A Million Little Things.”